Lamb, Bailey take mound in rehab game

CHICAGO -- The Reds began the season with a fleet of five starting pitchers -- an entire rotation's worth -- on the disabled list. But there have been varied degrees of progress for each of them lately as they each get closer to returning.

Left-hander John Lamb, trying to come back after December back surgery, threw three innings Monday morning in an extended spring game at the Goodyear, Ariz., complex. Manager Bryan Price believed it was still realistic that Lamb could return by the end of this month.

CHICAGO -- The Reds began the season with a fleet of five starting pitchers -- an entire rotation's worth -- on the disabled list. But there have been varied degrees of progress for each of them lately as they each get closer to returning.

Left-hander John Lamb, trying to come back after December back surgery, threw three innings Monday morning in an extended spring game at the Goodyear, Ariz., complex. Manager Bryan Price believed it was still realistic that Lamb could return by the end of this month.

"He's feeling good, I don't think he's having any issues with his back or any issues with strength," Price said. "He's certainly building up the stamina to get his pitch count up and get his innings up, I think is going to be important. Apparently he looked very sharp today from the reports we got. I don't think there's anything standing in his way to staying on schedule for activation. We're setting a target date for when he'd be ready, but he has to be throwing the ball well to be considered for activation. That's the way it's going to have to be for our guys."

Lamb's outing followed the two innings by starter Homer Bailey, who is nearing the end of his rehab from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Slated to return in May, Bailey is expected to pitch three innings his next time out and could begin a rehab assignment in the Minors with a four-inning start in around 10 days.

Michael Lorenzen, originally out with a right elbow strain since early March, saw his efforts to return slowed by a bout with mononucleosis. On Monday, Lorenzen returned to the complex to work out for the first time since getting sick. He told MLB.com that he lost 20 pounds from the illness and has not yet been cleared to resume throwing.

Anthony DeSclafani, on the DL with a left oblique strain, played catch on the outfield grass Monday afternoon at Wrigley Field.

"It went really well. He said it went terrific," Price said.

DeSclafani threw a three-inning simulated game last week and is slated to throw in the bullpen Wednesday in another test. What's next after that is to be determined.

"We'll see where we go from there and how he feels in that bullpen," Price said. "It seems like it would make sense to go out and pitch in a rehab game to verify that he's healthy. We haven't made a commitment to doing that yet."

Tim Melville will be making a second start in DeSclafani's place on Friday vs. the Cardinals. Sunday's starter at St. Louis is still listed as TBD but will likely go to Jon Moscot.

Out since mid-March with a strained left intercostal, Moscot is slated to start his second rehab assignment game on Tuesday with Triple-A Louisville. He threw 3 2/3 innings for Class A Daytona on Thursday.